Summary
This position is located in the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Protection Service, New York, New York; Salt Lake City, Utah; Washington, District of Columbia.
This job is open to
Federal employees - Competitive service
Current federal employees whose agencies follow the U.S. Office of Personnel Management's hiring rules and pay scales.
Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL)
Federal employees whose job, agency or department was eliminated and are eligible for priority over other applicants.
Land and base management
Current or former employees of a base management agency.
Veterans
Veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces or a spouse, widow, widower or parent of a veteran, who may be eligible for derived preference
Military spouses
Military spouses of active duty service members or whose spouse is 100 percent disabled or died on active duty.
Individuals with disabilities
Individuals who are eligible under Schedule A.
Family of overseas employees
Family members of a federal employee or uniformed service member who is or was, working overseas.
Peace Corps & AmeriCorps Vista
Individuals who have served at least 2 years with the Peace Corps or 1 year with AmeriCorps VISTA.
Special authorities
Individuals eligible under a special authority not listed in another hiring path.
Clarification from the agency
Status Candidates (this includes current or former Federal employees with career or career-conditional tenure in the competitive service; Former Overseas Employees, CTAP, ICTAP, VEOA, 30% or More Disabled Veterans, Schedule A, Military Spouses, AmeriCorps, Peace Corps, Vista, Land Management, and Interchange Agreement Eligibles)
Duties
FPS is hiring for law enforcement jobs that have an exciting opportunity! Once onboarded, you may be assigned for up to one year to support the . The law enforcement component of the D.C. Task Force is a partnership of over 20 federal and local agencies working together to make D.C. the safest city in America. Once the assignment ends, you'll transition back to support the FPS Visit the D.C. Task Force page for more information." this language to the summary section of the announcement.
The primary purpose of this position is to plan, conduct, and manage investigations related to alleged or suspected criminal violations of Federal laws, with a specific focus on cyber incidents such as computer intrusions, data breaches, internet-based threats, and ransomware attacks, while collaborating with various stakeholders to identify, collect, and preserve evidence. Duties performed:
- Conducting, and/or managing investigations related to alleged or suspected criminal violations of Federal laws.
- Serves as a Task Force Officer (TFO) on a Cyber Task Force (CTF)-investigating cyber incidents, such as computer intrusions, data breaches, internet-based threats and harassment, and ransomware attacks.
- Working with a variety of stakeholders, including interagency law enforcement task forces, federal, state, and local government agencies, and private businesses, to identify, collect, and preserve evidence of cyber-crimes.
- Gathering and preserving evidence used for the prosecution of computer crimes.
- Serving as case agent and/or liaison for interagency investigations and may lead teams of criminal investigators and other law enforcement officers (LEOs) involved in the investigations.
Requirements
Conditions of employment
- You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this position.
- You must successfully pass a background investigation. This may include a credit check, a review of financial issues, as well as certain criminal offenses and illegal use or possession of drugs.
- Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see http://www.sss.gov/).
- One-year probationary period may be required.
- Must meet Time-In-Grade requirements.
- A pre-employment drug test will be required.
- If you receive a conditional offer of employment for this position, you will be required to complete an Optional Form 306, Declaration for Federal Employment, and to sign and certify the accuracy of all information in your application.
- DHS uses e-Verify, an Internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States.
- All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choosing.
- License required: Yes; Incumbent must possess and maintain a valid motor vehicle operator's license.
- Pre-employment physical required: Yes
- This is a non-bargaining unit position.
- Permanent Change of Duty Station (PCS) Expenses will not be paid.
- Promotion Potential: This position is at the full potential.
- This position may be designated as essential personnel. Essential personnel must be able to serve during continuity of operation events without regard to declarations of unscheduled leave or government closures due to weather, protests, and acts of terrorism or lack of funding. Failure to report for or remain in this position may result in disciplinary or adverse action in accordance with applicable laws, rules, and regulations (5 U.S.C. § 7501-7533 and 5 CFR Part 752, as applicable)
- This position is subject to random drug testing.
- Selective Service: Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see http://www.sss.gov/).
Qualifications
Specialized Experience:GS-13:
Applicant must demonstrate one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-12 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors) performing the following duties:
- Supporting investigative tasks (i.e. conducting interviews of victims, witnesses and suspects; developing plans to investigative alleged crimes, violations or suspicious activities involving computing devices, networks, and the internet);
- Gathering evidence to use in the prosecution of computer crimes;
- Preparing reports to support investigation processes; and
- Advising on actions required for cyber threats to senior officials.
NOTE: Your resume must explicitly indicate how you meet this requirement, otherwise you will be found ineligible.
Only the first 2 pages of your resume will be used to make an eligibility/qualifications determination.
Time-in-Grade Requirements: Under competitive merit promotion procedures, any individual who is currently holding, or who has held within the previous 52 weeks, a General Schedule position under a non-temporary appointment in the competitive or excepted service, must meet "time-in-grade" requirements (have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade of the grade for which you are applying).
NOTE: All current or former Federal employees must provide a copy of their SF-50 (you may need to submit more than one), "Notice of Personnel Action" that indicates proof of status and time-in-grade eligibility. The SF-50 must include your position, title, series, grade, step, tenure (1 or 2), and type of service (Competitive or Excepted).
All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement. Qualification claims will be subject to verification.
NOTE: Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
Interagency/Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP): This program applies to Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed, or employees who have been involuntarily separated from a Federal service position within the competitive service. To receive selection priority for this position, you must: 1) meet eligibility criteria for CTAP or ICTAP; 2) be rated well-qualified for the position; and 3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your CTAP or ICTAP eligibility. Well-Qualified includes those applicants whose knowledge, skills, and abilities clearly exceed the minimum qualification requirements for the position. For information on eligibility criteria and required documentation, go to:
http://www.opm.gov/rif/employee_guides/career_transition.
Other Requirements for the Position
- Mobility Agreement: This position may require the incumbent to be reassigned to a different geographic location. Accordingly, the incumbent will be required to sign a mobility agreement, which will remain in effect while assigned to this position as a criminal investigator.
- Motor-Vehicle Operation: Incumbent must possess and maintain a valid motor vehicle operator's license. Motor vehicles must be driven and managed in accordance with the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and Federal Protective Service, (FPS) policies and guidance. Law Enforcement Availability Pay (LEAP}: Incumbent is subject to work unscheduled duty hours and must be available for unscheduled duty based upon the needs of the agency. Therefore, the incumbent is eligible for
- Law Enforcement Availability Pay (LEAP) of an additional 25% and is subject to the provisions of the LEAP Act of 1994.
- Firearms Requirement: The incumbent must carry firearms and maintain proficiency in their care and use in accordance with FPS policy and standards.
- Lautenberg Amendment: This position is covered by the 1996 Lautenberg Amendment of the Gun Control Act of 1968. Persons convicted of a misdemeanor or felony crime of domestic violence are not eligible for the position.
- Training Requirement: Incumbent must successfully complete the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center's Criminal Investigator Training Program, or its equivalent.
- Occupational Safety and Health Requirement: The incumbent will be required to comply with all pertinent Occupational Safety and Health Administration {OSHA) requirements including use of all personal protective equipment (PPE) provided, in accordance with training, work instructions, and as required by the task at hand. Pre-Employment Medical Requirement: Prior to appointment the person selected for this position must be determined physically fit by an authorized government physician to perform strenuous and physically demanding duties, which may include protecting citizens, taking suspects into custody using reasonable physical force in the face of physical resistance and responding to situations requiring physic al agility and quick and legally sufficient decision making. Also, must successfully pass a pre-employment medical examination (which includes, but is not limited to vision, hearing, cardiovascular and mobility of extremities) given by an authorized government physician. This position may be subject to periodic incumbent examinations in the future.
- Certifications: Certifications addressing digital forensics, security and risk management, asset security, security engineering, communications and network security, identity and access management, security assessment and testing, security operations, and software development security may be beneficial to enhancing the performance of the position's duties.
- Pre-Employment Drug Testing: This position requires a negative pre-employment drug test, result before appointment into the position.
- Random Drug Testing: The incumbent of this position is subject to random drug testing.
- Age Requirement: There Is a maximum entry age of the day before the incumbent's 37th birthday (except for veterans' preference eligible) for entry into law enforcement officer's positions. Applicants who have previously been employed in a federal law enforcement officer's position covered by 5 U.S.C. 8336{c) or 5 U.S.C. 8412{d) are not restricted from applying.
Additional information
Note: DHS continues to take necessary steps to keep our workforce safe amid the COVID-19 pandemic. If you receive a final job offer to onboard, please complete the onboarding forms and submit them electronically in an expeditious manner. Your start date may be delayed if the action above is not completed.
Background Investigation: To ensure the accomplishment of its mission, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) requires each and every employee to be reliable and trustworthy. To meet those standards, all selected applicants must undergo and successfully complete a background investigation for a Top-Secret clearance as a condition of placement in this Special Sensitive/ High Risk position. This review includes financial issues such as delinquency in the payment of debts, child support and/or tax obligations, as well as certain criminal offenses and illegal use or possession of drugs.
Pursuant to Executive Order 12654 and DHS policy, DHS is committed to maintaining a drug-free workplace and, therefore, conducts random and other drug testing of its employees in order to ensure a safe and healthy work environment. Headquarters personnel in safety- or security-sensitive positions are subject to random drug testing and all applicants tentatively selected for employment at DHS Headquarters are subject to drug testing resulting in a negative test result.
Current or Former Political Appointees: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office.
Interagency/Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP/CTAP): This program applies to Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed, or employees who have been involuntarily separated from a Federal service position within the competitive service. To receive selection priority for this position, you must: 1) meet eligibility criteria for CTAP or ICTAP; 2) be rated well-qualified for the position; and 3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your CTAP or ICTAP eligibility. Well-Qualified includes those applicants whose knowledge, skills, and abilities clearly exceed the minimum qualification requirements for the position. For information on eligibility criteria and required documentation, go to: http://www.opm.gov/rif/employee_guides/career_transition.asp
Selective Service: Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see http://www.sss.gov/).
If you are unable to apply online contact CSB_Inquiries@opm.gov.
Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Review our benefits
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
How you will be evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Shortly after you submit you application you will receive a link to a Job compatibility assessment (JCA). We will review your resume and supporting documentation to ensure you meet the basic qualification requirements.
Based on your responses, you will receive a score from the Assessment(s). Those applicants who score the highest will be referred to the hiring manager where they may be called for an interview. Failure to complete the interview may result in removal from further consideration.
If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have overstated your qualifications and/or experience, you will be removed from consideration or your score will be lowered.
Consideration will be given to performance appraisals and incentive awards as an indicator of quality of prior experience; no points will be assigned.
For Competitive Merit Promotion and Veterans Employment Opportunities Act (VEOA) Applicants: The highest rated candidates will be referred to the hiring agency.
For Noncompetitive Appointment Eligibles: All qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring agency.
Veterans Employment Opportunities Act (VEOA): To be eligible for a VEOA appointment, the veteran must 1) be a preference eligible; or 2) be a veteran separated after 3 or more years of continuous active service performed under honorable conditions (you must submit a DD214-member copy 4).
Veterans, Peace Corps/VISTA volunteers, and persons with disabilities possess a wealth of unique talents, experiences, and competencies that can be invaluable to the DHS mission. If you are a member of one of these groups, you may not have to compete with the public for federal jobs. To determine your eligibility for non-competitive appointment and to understand the required documentation, click on the links above.
To preview the assessment questionnaire, click the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12828988
Required Documents
To apply for this position, you must submit a complete Application Package which includes:
1. Your resume showing a detailed description of your job-related qualifications that includes beginning and ending dates with the month and year and hours worked per week (if less than 40) for each paid and non-paid work experience job title listed. Limit your resume to two pages. Only resumes 2 pages in length will be accepted to determine eligibility and qualifications. For more information, view the following link.
USAJOBS Help Center - Update your resume now so it meets new resume requirements
2. Other supporting documents (only submit if applicable to you):
- Are you a current federal employee? Submit a copy of your SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action that demonstrates your eligibility for consideration, e.g., length of time you have been in your current/highest grade (examples of appropriate SF-50s include promotions, with-in grade/range increases); your current promotion potential; proof of permanent appointment if applying based on an interchange agreement; etc.
- Are you a former federal employee? Submit a copy of your last SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action that demonstrates your eligibility for consideration and a copy of your last Federal Performance appraisal.
- Are you a veteran? Submit Member Copy 4 of your DD-214 or other (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) or notice form. Those applying for 10-Point preference must fill out the SF-15 and provide an official document dated 1991 or later, from the Department of Veterans Affairs or from a branch of the Armed Forces, and/or any other associated documentation based on your preference. If applying based on eligibility under the Veterans Opportunity to Work (VOW) Act, you must submit certification from the Armed Forces that you will be discharged or released from active duty within 120 days from the date you submit your application. This must indicate your dates of service, your rank, and confirm that you will be separated under honorable conditions.
- For more information on veterans' preference see http://www.fedshirevets.gov/.
- Are you claiming special priority selection rights under the Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP/CTAP)? If so, submit the documents applicable to you:
- A copy of the documentation demonstrating your status as a surplus or displaced employee (See for additional information regarding these statuses);
- A copy of your SF-50 "Notification of Personnel Action," noting your position, grade level, and duty location. If you have already separated, submit a copy of your SF-50 documenting your separation;
- A copy of your latest performance appraisal including your rating (if your separation notice does not have this information included); and
- Any documentation from your agency that shows your current promotion potential.
- Are you eligible for a special noncompetitive hiring authority (e.g., Schedule A Disability, Peace Corps, Former Overseas Employees, etc.)? Submit documentation of proof that supports your eligibility under a special hiring authority.
- Are you a current or former political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee? Submit a copy of your applicable SF-50, along with a statement that provides the following information regarding your most recent political appointment:
- Position title;
- Type of appointment (Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES, or Presidential Appointee);
- Agency; and
- Beginning and ending dates of appointment.
- Are you applying under special hiring authorities as a military spouse? Provide a copy of your:
- Marriage certificate, and
- A completed SF-15 with supporting documentation.
- You may be asked to provide a copy of your recent performance appraisal and/or incentive awards.
How to Apply
Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply for this position, you must complete the initial online application, to include the initial online assessment and submission of the required documentation specified in the Required Documents section above. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 11/24/2025 to receive consideration.
Two Page resume: Effective immediately, all job announcements will enforce a two page resume limit. A resume must be no more than two pages. If an applicant's resume exceeds two-pages, the USA jobs database will not allow the application to be submitted. If a resume is still uploaded and exceeds the two page limit, despite strict instruction not to, the applicant will be rated out and deemed ineligible for further consideration.
PLEASE NOTE: If your materials are not received by the closing date, your application will be evaluated solely on the information available and you may not receive full consideration or may not be considered eligible. Also, if you do not provide a valid email address, you may not be notified of the outcome of your application. The application process is as follows:
- To begin the application process, click the Apply Online button.
- Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all necessary supporting documentation.
- Click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59PM (ET) on the announcement closing date.
To update your application, including supporting documentation, at any time during the announcement open period, return to your USAJOBS account
https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login. There you will find a record of your application, the application status, and an option to
Update Application.
This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed.
To verify the status of your application both during and after the announcement open period, log into your USAJOBS account:
https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login. All of your applications will appear on the
Welcome page. The application record in your USAJOBS account provides an
Additional Application Information page that provides information regarding the documentation you submitted and any correspondence we have sent related to this application. The
Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each
Application Status means, visit:
https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/.
Next steps
Once you submit your application, you will receive a link to the Job compatibility assessment. Once that is complete, we will assess your experience and training, identify the best qualified applicants, and refer those applications to the hiring manager for further consideration and interviews. We will notify you by email the outcome after each of these steps has been completed. Your status will also be updated on your USAJOBS account throughout the process.
Note: This announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies during the next 90 days. This could result in a few or many vacancies being filled from this announcement. Applying to this announcement certifies that you give permission for DHS to share your application with others in DHS for similar positions.
We expect to make a selection within 60 days of the closing date of this announcement. If you are selected, we will conduct a suitability/security background investigation.
Any offers of employment made pursuant to this announcement will be consistent with all applicable authorities, including Presidential Memoranda, Executive Orders, interpretive U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) guidance, and Office of Management and Budget plans and policies concerning hiring. These authorities are subject to change.
For more information on applying for Federal employment, please click here.